Instructional Designer

Wheaton College in Massachusetts; Norton (MA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Wheaton College in Norton, MA is seeking an Instructional Designer to lead course design and learning technology initiatives. You will coach faculty in converting in-person courses to online formats and developing new online offerings, acting as an academic leader for effective learning design and digital pedagogy.

The role requires 5–10 years in higher education instructional design, a Master's degree, and experience with Canvas, Studio, and other tools.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Instructional Design, Educational Technology or related field or substantial instructional design experience in higher education.
• 5–10 years of relevant work experience in higher education instructional design.
• Formal teaching or training experience in a higher education setting.
• Experience with Canvas or other learning management systems, and accessibility practices (WCAG).

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for instructional design and establish standards for online course delivery and assessment.
• Coach faculty through course design, assessment, and review processes; offer one-on-one consultation.
• Lead adoption and administration of instructional technologies such as Canvas, Canvas Studio, and Yuja Panorama.
• Promote WCAG accessibility in course design and provide support for accessible content.
• Identify faculty development needs and respond with training and opportunities.
• Engage in professional development to stay current in instructional design and technology.

Skills

Instructional design principles

Formal teaching experience

Coaching faculty

Online course design

Ability to work independently

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Tools

Canvas

Canvas Studio

Yuja Panorama

Articulate

Job description

The federal government and the state of Massachusetts have made the decision to end the COVID-19 public health emergency. Effective June 1, 2023, the college will no longer require COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for members of our community. Rather, we strongly recommend that everyone stay up to date on their vaccinations, including boosters, as recommended by their health care provider.

While we will no longer require COVID-19 vaccinations, we strongly encourage members of our campus community to adhere to public health recommendations for vaccination to protect against COVID-19, as well as influenza and other diseases.

Position Title: Instructional Designer

FLSA: Exempt

Job Type: Full-Time

Staff Term: 12 Months

Staff Work Schedule (hours/dates): M-F usually 8:30 - 4:00

Position Type: Staff

Department: Library

Job Summary: Reporting to the Director of Research and Instruction within Library Services, the Instructional Designer provides knowledge and expertise for instructional design services with a particular focus on online course design and delivery. The Instructional Designer will coach and support faculty in their planning and processes to transition in person courses to online offerings and in the course development of new online offerings. This person is an academic leader for effective learning design practices, digital learning pedagogy, course content creation and curation, traditional and digital assessments, and use of technology to enhance teaching and learning. The Instructional Designer will encourage meaningful adoption of the learning management system and other instructional technologies. They will plan and create training materials including workshops, self-help documents, online tutorials, and other resources to assist instructors in implementing best practices in their courses.

Please note the Instructional Designer is not a fully remote position. Candidates should live in traveling distance to campus or being willing to relocate to the Norton, Massachusetts area. Additionally, the Instructional Designer is considered a staff position that requires previous formal teaching or training experience, but is not a faculty or instructor position.

In your cover letter please provide detail as to your in-depth knowledge of instructional design principles and processes as demonstrated by education and/or work history.

Essential Functions:

• Provide leadership for instructional design. Refine and improve existing course development and course review plans and processes. Establish and maintain standards for online course delivery, documentation, policies and procedures, and assessment plans to ensure program quality.
• Direct and coach faculty and subject matter experts through the course design, assessment, and review processes. Provide expertise on process and design of compelling and innovative course elements and experiences. Support instructors in their creation of learning objects. Provide one-on-one consultation and instructional coaching to faculty.
• Serve as an administrative and pedagogical leader for current instructional technologies, including but not limited to Canvas, Canvas Studio, and Yuja Panorama. Collaborate with instructors and staff colleagues to implement best practices in the LMS and other instructional technologies. Assist in administration and configuration of the LMS and similar tools.
• Act as a coach and leader in the adoption of WCAG accessibility standards in Canvas courses and other instructional materials. Provide support to instructors in the creation of accessible course content and the use of accessibility remediation tools.
• Identify areas of instructional design and related professional development needs among the faculty, plan for, and offer opportunities to address those needs. Plan for and respond to emerging instructional technologies, including the responsible use and integration of generative AI into teaching, learning, and assessment. Support instructors in developing AI-aware course design and academic integrity practices.
• Attend training, webinars, conferences, and other approved professional development activities to stay current and improve knowledge of instructional design, instructional technology, new and emerging technologies, and other related teaching and learning topics.
• Other Duties: Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor. This may include attendance of and participation in required training.

Minimum Qualifications

Education Requirements: Master's degree or equivalent required. Strongly prefer degrees in Instructional Design, Educational, Educational Technology, Curriculum & Instruction, or other related field. May substitute substantial experience in a documented instructional design role in higher education.

Work Experience: 5 – 10 years required work experience

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Hold an in-depth knowledge of instructional design principles and processes as demonstrated by employment application, education, and work history.
• Formal teaching or training experience. Ability to create learning and training materials for instructors and students, in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated experience supporting others’ teaching and learning in multiple modes: in person, online, hybrid, synchronous and asynchronous.
• Demonstrated experience creating spaces for discussion and exploration of best practices in online learning and providing expertise for use of technologies to achieve those goals.
• Demonstrated experience implementing universal and inclusive design principles.
• Demonstrated experience with and implementing strategies to address WCAG web accessibility standards.
• Enthusiasm for delivering high quality and timely service to an academic community.
• Applied experience with a variety of assessment methods.
• Experience using Canvas or other learning management systems.
• Knowledge of OSCQR , Quality Matters, or other course quality assurance initiatives.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, to remain organized, and to drive initiatives forward with support.
• Ability to engage with people at all skill levels.
• Disposition as a creative problem solver with ability to suggest multiple solutions.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with all campus stakeholders, including students, instructors, and staff.

Preferred Qualifications

Type/Field of Experience: Instructional Designer or Learning Experiences Designer position in a higher education setting preferred.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: (In additon to those listed above)

• Three or more years working directly with faculty in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience building and/or executing a program for continuous and cyclical quality review of courses.
• Broad and comprehensive knowledge of digital pedagogy.
• Experience administering Canvas or other learning management systems.
• Working knowledge of graphic design principles and/or experience working with Adobe or other design software.
• Experience creating accessible content and using accessibility software tools and platforms.
• Ability to support Mac and Windows users.
• Experience recording audio and video, working with audio/visual editors, and using Articulate or another web-based authoring tool.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Ability to listen carefully and thoughtfully respond to disparate concerns of multiple constituencies.
• Ability to communicate effectively about technical ideas and issues with non-technical audiences, orally and in writing.

Compensation and Benefits

To attract and retain the most talented individuals, Wheaton College maintains a flexible and competitive staff compensation and benefits program. When determining and establishing hiring rates or recruitment ranges for a position, the College considers a number of factors including the budget for the position, the range of the grade, the external market for the position or similar positions, level and scope of responsibilities, required education, skills and relevant experience as well as internal equity. All salary offers must have the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources.

The anticipated hiring or recruitment range for this position is $75-80K. The actual salary offered will be commensurate with the qualifications, education and experience of the candidate hired.

Physical Demands

Office environment/no specific or unusual physical or environmental demands.

ADA Statement

Individuals must possess these knowledges, skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Wheaton College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or disability. In a continuing effort to maintain and enrich an intellectually diverse learning environment, the Department and the College actively encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented groups.

Wheaton's core belief is that valuing diversity is pivotal to personal development, intellectual expansion, and societal equity. Our community is united by a shared dedication to equity and access that is essential to providing a transformative education in the Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Posting Date

09/28/2026

Closing Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Contact(s)

Office of Human Resources

Contact Phone/Extension: 508-286-8206

Contact Email: [e-mail]

References

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• Do you have a masters degree?
  • Yes
  • No
• Do you have previous higher education experience?
  • Yes
  • No